Oarlock socket



P. M. GRIFFIN OARLOCK SOCKET Dec. 5, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 26,1948 V INVENTOR. Per: /7 6/7/79)? BY I ATTORNEY P. M. GRIFFIN OARLOCKSOCKET Dec. 5, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 26, 1948 INVENTOR. Per-cM ri/fl'r? 47'70PNEY Ha J Dec. 5 1950 GRIFFIN 2,533,190

I OARLOCK SOCKET Filed May 26, 1948 s Sheets-Sheet 5 IN VEN TOR.

Per: /7. 6/7719 Patented Dec. 5, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PercyM. Griffin, Rensselaer, N. Y.; Loretta L.

English executrix of said Percy M. Griffin, de-

ceased Application May 26, 1948, Serial No. 29,390

*1 Claims. (01. 9-26) My invention relates to boats which are pro pelledby oars, and particularly to improvements in oarlock sockets for suchboats.

Oars, in order to function to the best advantage, should rotate about avertical axis or, in other words, an axis which is perpendicular to thewater surface. This will be apparent if it is borne in mind that when anoar is rotated about an axis in the rowing operation, it is angularlyinclined to the axis and may be considered as the generatrix of aconical surface. If the axis of this conical surface is not vertical,the plane of the blade of the oar, when moving through the water isnormal to the water surface in only one position, whereas it isdesirable .to maintain the plane of the blade of the oar perpendicularto the water surface at all times when it is-im-.

mersed.

Since the sockets in which the oarlocks are secured are fixed to the topor near the top of the sides of the boat and the sides of the boat areinvariably inclined upwardly and outwardly, the axis of the socket isusually parallel to the side of the boat or, in other words, inclined tothe vertical. The greater the inclination of the axis of the socket tothe vertical, the more difii cult it is to propel the boat by pulling orpushing the blade of the oar through the water.

Therefore, the principal object of my invention is to provide an oarlocksocket which is adapted for attachment to the top of the side, orgunwale, of a rowboat and which is provided with means whereby it may beadjusted so that the socket proper is substantially precisely verticalirrespective of the inclination of the side of the boat to the vertical.Another object is to provide a socket having the above features which isparticularly adapted for use with bow facing oarlocks of the characterdescribed in my U. S. Letters Patent No. 2,323,323, issued July 6. 1943.

I accomplish these objects by means of the novel elements and thecombinations and arrangements thereof described below and illustrated inthe accompanying drawings in which- Fig. 1 is an exploded, perspectiveView of the parts of my socket except the bolts which secure the partstogether and showing a fragmentary portion of the gunwale of therowboat;

Fig. 2 is an end view, partially in transverse section, of my socketshowing parts thereof as sembled and clamped together;

Fig. 3 is a small scale end view of my socket showing it attached to arowboat, a fragmentary portion of which is shown in section, together 2with fragmentary portions of an oar secured i an oarlock of the typedescribed in my said Let-. ters Patent;

Fig. 4 is an exploded, top plan view of a slightly modified form ofsocket without the bolts which secure the parts together;

Fig. 5 is a side elevation view of part of the device shown in Fig. 4,and as viewed through the broken plane 5-5; and

Fig. 6 is an end view of the socket shown in Fig. 4 attached to the topof the side of a rowboat, a fragmentary portion of which is shown insection.

Referring to the drawings-- l represents the side of the boat, and 2 isthe top of the side of the boat, or gunwale.

The species of my invention illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, which isprimarily designed for more or less permanent attachment to the boat,comprises a base 3 having angularly disposed portions 4 and 5 adapted toembrace the edge 6 of the gunwale. The portions 4 are provided withapertures I and the portions 5 with apertures 8 for the reception ofscrews adapted to secure the base to the boat. Integral with the top ofthe base are two, spaced, concave, cylindrical bearings 9, the bearingsurfaces of which are provided with circumferentially-extending slotsIll adapted to pass the bolts I l, shown in Fig. 2.

The other principal part of my invention is the top or socket member,represented generally by the numeral [2, and which, as here shown,comprises a central portion l3 having a socket l4 therein adapted toreceive the oarlock and which is provided at each side or end of thecentral portion 13 with a convex, cylindrical bearing l5 having a fiattop and which is adapted to be rotatably supported in one of thebearings 9 on the base member.

The top or socket member and the base member are secured together bymeans of the bolts I I which pass upwardly through the slotted openingsH! in the bearings 9 and through the holes [6 in the bearings [5 of thetop member, as best shown in Fig. 2.

By reference to Fig. 2, it will be apparent that, if the top or socketmember be considered fixed with the socket vertical, relative movementsof the top member and the base member between the position of the basemember, as shown in solid outline, and the position shown in dottedoutline, are possible. Since the depending portions 4, 4', as shown inFig. 2, are parallel to the side of the boat when the socket is securedthereto, it will be apparent that, after the base member is secured tothe side of the boat, the socket may be adjusted to vertical position byloosening the nuts ll on the bolts i! and rotating the socket member inthe bearings of the base member, and clamping them together. Bydisposing the plane tops 53 of the bearings i5 at an angle to the planeof the top of the socket, a greater latitude of adjustment is providedbecause the top member l2, if necessary, may be reversed end for end inthe bearings 9.

In Figs. 4, 5 and 6, I have shown a slight modification in my socketwhich adapts it more readily to be detachably secured to the side of theboat than the species shown in the other figures. Thus, the base memberN has depending portions 2%] provided at the bottom with slightlyinturned teeth 2! which are adapted to' bite into the side of the boat,and, instead of providing these depending portions with apertures forthe passage of screws, the base member is provided, adjacent the topthereof, and above the depending portions with passages 22 adapted toreceive bolts, such as shown at 23 in Fig. 6. Between the dependingportions 28 and integral therewith, are cylindrical bearings 24identical with the bearings 9 and having circumferentially-extendingapertures 25 extending through the bearing surfaces thereof for thepassage of bolts identical with the bolts I shown in Fig. 2.

The top or, socket member 26is identical with the top or socket memberl2. In other words, the top member, shown in Figs. 4 and 5, is providedat each end of the socket with a flat top, convex, cylindrical bearingziwhich is rotatably mounted in one of the bearings 2t and is providedwith apertures 28 therethrough in registration with the slotted passages25 through the bearings 24 for the reception of bolts, such as shown atH in Fig. 2, for securing the socket member to the base.

In order to secure the base member to the side of the boat I provide aclamping member 30, such as shown in Figs. 4 and 6. The member 35 isprovided with depending portions 3i (see Fig. 6) similar to thedepending portions 20 on the base member and which are provided withslightly inturned teeth 32 adapted to bite into the side of the boatopposite the teeth 2| on the base member. passages 33 in the member 39and through the passages 22 in the member 19 and are provided with nuts34 which may be tightened to clamp the base member to the side of theboat.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that my sockets may be properlyadjusted to fit boats having the sides thereof inclined to the verticalthroughout a wide range of angles, and while I have illustrated thesocket I4 as being rectangular in cross section, because the bow-facingoarlocks disclosed in my Letters Patent aforesaid have a projection onthe bottom which requires such a socket, it is obvious that, if commonoarlocks are to be used with my sockets, the socket may be madecylindrical or any other shape necessary to accommodate the oarlccks.

3 While I have described my invention in its preferred embodiment, it isto be understood that the words which I have used are words ofdescription rather than of limitation and that changes,

within the purview of the appended claims, may

be made without departing from the true scope and spirit of my inventionin its broader aspects. 5 iWhat I claim is:

" 1. In an oarlock socket, the combination with a base element providedwith means adaptin it The bolts 23 extend throughto be secured to theinclined side of a rowboat, of a second element provided with a sockettherein adapted to receive an oarlock, means, including alongitudinally-extending bearin on said base element and a cylindricalmember on said second element pivotally connecting said elementstogether and providing rotative movements of said second element aboutan axis extending in a direction at right angles, to the axis of saidsocket and fore-and-aft of said boat when said base element is securedto said boat; whereby the angular relation of said socket to thevertical may be adjusted irrespective of the inclination of the side ofsaid boat; and means for securing said elements together in adjustedrelation.

2. In an oarlock socket, the combination with a base element providedwith means adapting it to be secured to the inclined side of a rowboat,of a second element having a socket therein adapted to receive saidoarlock, means, including a, longitudinally-extending bearing on saidbase element and a cylindrical member on said second element connectingsaid elements together and providing relative movement thereof foradjusting said second element after said base element is secured to saidboat to position said socket substantially vertical irrespective of theinclination of the side of said boat, and means for clamping saidelements in adjusted relation.

3. A socket for an oarlock comprising the combination with a baseelement provided with means adapting it to be attached to the side of arowboat and provided on the top thereof with a longitudinally arrangedcylindrical bearing, of a socket element having a cylindrical portionrotatably mounted in said bearing, and means for clamping said elementstogether, said bearing being disposed parallel to the sides of the boatwhen mounted in position thereon.

4. A socket for an oarlock comprising the combination with a baseelement provided with means adapting it to be secured to the gunwale ofa rowboat and having on the top thereof a longitudinally extendingcylindrical bearing, said bearing being disposed parallel to the sidesof the boat when mounted in position thereon, of a socket elementrotatably mounted in said bearing; whereby said elements may be adjustedrelative to each other; and means for clamping said elements together inadjusted relation.

5. A socket for an oarlock comprising the com bination with a baseelement provided with means adapting it to be secured to the top of an.inclined side of a rowboat, of a top element provided with a sockettherein adapted to receive said oarlock when said base element isattached to said boat; said base element and said top element beingprovided with cooperating means, including a longitudinally-extendingbearing on said base element and a cylindrical member on said topelement adapting said top element to be moved relative to said baseelement when said base element is attached to said boat to position saidsocket substantially vertiportion at each end of said socket rotatablysupported in said bearings; whereby the angular disposition of saidsocket to the vertical may be adjusted after said base element issecured to said boat and irrespective of the inclination of the side ofsaid boat; and means for clamping said elements together insocket-adjusted position.

'7. A socket for an oarlock comprising the combination with a baseelement having angularly disposed portions adapted, respectively, to lieon top of the inclined side of a rowboat and against said side. andprovided with means adapting said element to be secured to said boat; ofa pair of longitudinally spaced cylindrical bearings integral with thetop of said base element and provided with transversely extending slotsin the bearing surfaces thereof, a top element provided with a centrallydisposed socket therein and a cylindrical portion at each end of saidsocket rotatably mounted in said bearings, and bolts extending throughsaid cylindrical portions and through said slots for clamping saidelements together in fixed relation; whereby, when said base element issecured to said boat, the angular disposition of said socket to thevertical may be adjusted when said bolts are loosened and said elementsmay be clamped together in socket-adjusting relation by tightening saidbolts.

PERCY M. GRIFFIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,768,006 Seberg et a1 June 24,1930 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 11,001 Great Britain July 13,1895

